Sen. Greg Evers: Bullet train's bad after all; and so is SunRail

Another day, another rail flip flop. This one comes courtesy of Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, who joined 25 other senators in signing a letter of protest after Gov. Rick Scott said he'd refuse $2.4 billion in high-speed rail money. (More here on that letter)

Evers pointed out he voted against the original legislation in 2009 that allowed for high-speed rail. So Evers has flipped back on his flop. Not so Senate President Mike Haridopolos, who's now saying that he didn't think the bill he voted for was a bullet-train bill, but was more of a SunRail bill for commuter rail in Central Florida.

Anyway, here's the text of the letters to Scott and Ray LaHood of UDOT.

Dear Secretary LaHood,As a representative of the people of Florida Senate District 2, I do hereby remove my signature on the letter you received on Thursday, February 17, 2011, regarding funding for High Speed Rail. I appreciate the voices of concern that have been raised and I am resolved to reduce the size of government in every arena possible.

Let me be very clear. I do not want to spend one dime on High Speed Rail and I absolutely support Governor Scott sending the money back. I regret signing the letter as I believe it misconstrued my position on High Speed Rail. I was trying to send a message to Governor Scott to bring to the forefront my firm belief that we should not fund any rail projects with state or federal money.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

.....................

Attached please find a copy of a letter sent today to Secretary Ray LaHood revoking my signature from the letter sent to him last week.

I like you and so many conservatives in our state, strongly oppose High Speed Rail. In fact, I was one of a small minority of members who voted against it when it was up for the original vote in the 2009 Special Session. However, I am also against another project I think is just as much, if not more of a boondoggle, SunRail.

I fully support your decision to send back the money earmarked for High Speed Rail and implore you to revisit your budget proposal as it pertains to SunRail. We should not fund any rail projects with Florida taxpayer dollars. Thank you for your time and consideration.

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